“The plague spread like a wave that would have submerged the dikes, the dams, all the obstacles that men had planted on its path; and maybe at this point it is more important to survive than to conquer”
— Primo Levi
Simplified Meaning:
When bad things happen, like a disease spreading quickly, they can feel unstoppable, overcoming every barrier we’ve set up to protect ourselves. It’s like trying to hold back the ocean with sandcastles; the water just crashes over everything. In times like these, the most important thing isn’t trying to win or be the best, but simply staying alive and getting through it. For example, during a natural disaster, instead of worrying about saving all our possessions, our main focus should be on keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe. This teaches us that sometimes, survival is more important than achieving great feats or victories. So, in our own lives, when faced with overwhelming challenges, prioritize staying strong and enduring the hardship, rather than trying to conquer it all.
